In a remarkable legal turn of events, an Indian PhD student in the United States, Priya Saxena, managed to block her sudden deportation by winning a court case against the U.S. federal government. Her story is not just about one individual fighting back—it’s a broader tale about immigration enforcement, student rights, and what it means to pursue higher education in America under increasingly restrictive policies.
Priya Saxena was pursuing her doctoral studies at the University of South Dakota, specializing in chemical and biological engineering. Her F-1 student visa was valid through February 2027, giving her ample time to finish her academic goals. However, in April, she was suddenly informed that her visa had been terminated.
The reason cited by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was a “criminal record”—a label that, in Priya Saxena’s case, referred to nothing more than a 2021 traffic violation for failing to stop for an emergency vehicle. The penalty had been a small fine, and the matter was long resolved. Nonetheless, her visa was cancelled, and her SEVIS record—essential for any international student to remain in legal status—was deleted.
The deletion of her SEVIS record meant she could no longer attend classes, access campus resources, or even remain legally in the country. This action not only jeopardized her academic future but placed her at immediate risk of arrest and deportation. The move was part of a larger pattern under the Trump administration, which had aggressively targeted international students for deportation, even for minor or non-criminal infractions.
Legal Battle Against Unjust Deportation
When Priya Saxena learned of the revocation of her visa, she and her attorney, Jim Leach, acted swiftly. In mid-April, they filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that the visa termination was unjust and unlawful. Their claim was simple: a minor traffic offense should not qualify as a criminal act that results in visa cancellation and deportation.
The federal court responded by granting a temporary restraining order. This crucial decision allowed Saxena to remain in the country and complete her doctoral program. She successfully graduated on May 10, just weeks after her visa was originally set to be revoked. But her legal challenges were far from over.
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This past week, a federal judge in South Dakota took a significant step further, issuing a preliminary injunction in her favor. The ruling not only blocked the DHS from detaining or deporting her without court approval but also criticized the government’s actions. The judge stated that DHS’s conduct “appears unlawful and is likely to cause Saxena irreparable harm.”
Here is Dr.Priya Saxena graduating with a Doctorate after Kristi Noem tried to deport her! 😡 pic.twitter.com/gIIzkKSnld
— Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) May 12, 2025
Priya Saxena’s attorney, Jim Leach, celebrated the court’s decision, noting that justice had prevailed through the rule of law. He emphasized that Saxena is exactly the kind of person the United States should welcome—educated, law-abiding, and contributing to the intellectual wealth of the country. “If a traffic ticket makes someone a criminal, then I’m not sure there’s going to be anybody left in this country,” he told reporters.
Targeting International Students: A Widening Pattern
Priya Saxena’s case is not an isolated incident. During the Trump administration, there was a notable increase in immigration enforcement actions against international students, often based on flimsy or technical justifications.
From visa revocations due to minor legal issues to targeting students based on their political beliefs or associations, the administration carried out a wide-reaching campaign that alarmed educational institutions across the country.
In one notable example, the DHS admitted during a court hearing that it had run the names of over one million international students through an FBI database to identify criminal history. This search produced 6,400 results and ultimately led to the cancellation of approximately 3,000 student visas.
Civil liberties groups criticized these actions, arguing that such mass surveillance and arbitrary enforcement measures damaged the United States’ long-standing reputation as a welcoming place for international scholars.
In Priya Saxena’s case, the loss of her SEVIS record had severe implications. SEVIS, administered by the DHS, is the backbone of tracking and managing international student records. Without it, students are essentially invisible to the system and are considered unlawfully present in the country. For many, that means losing housing, employment, and access to education overnight.
The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of how immigration laws are applied and whether they are being enforced in a manner that is consistent with American values. Critics argue that these policies have turned the United States into a less hospitable place for bright and talented students who once saw it as the global leader in higher education.
What This Means for the Future of International Students
The ruling in favor of Priya Saxena has been viewed as a rare legal win in a sea of difficult circumstances faced by many international students in the U.S. It signals that federal courts are willing to check the powers of immigration authorities when their actions veer into unlawful or unreasonable territory.
More importantly, it highlights the need for reforms in the way immigration law is interpreted and enforced—especially concerning people whose only desire is to learn, grow, and contribute. Priya Saxena’s ordeal also points to the fragility of the student visa system and how quickly things can unravel due to bureaucratic decisions.
Her case underscores the importance of providing a more nuanced and fair process when it comes to visa enforcement, especially for those who are in the country legally and have minor infractions that wouldn’t rise to criminality by any common sense standard.
Leach, her attorney, summed up the larger issue best when he told The Guardian: “We’ve been kind of the model for the globe in terms of [how] we can attract really smart foreign students because we have great universities, and we let people at those universities inquire and learn.” By targeting individuals like Priya Saxena, he said, the U.S. risks undermining that legacy.
While the preliminary injunction allows Priya Saxena to remain in the United States for now, her legal team is seeking a permanent injunction that would offer her continued protection. Until that happens, the cloud of uncertainty will still linger, although the recent decision has given hope to thousands of others facing similar circumstances.
In an age where global competition for talent is fiercer than ever, the U.S. must decide whether it wants to be a beacon for aspiring minds or a fortress guarded by overzealous bureaucracy. Priya Saxena’s story serves as a warning—but also a reminder that justice can still prevail when challenged with determination and the support of the law.